It’s A Beautiful Day

In Texas, the sun is shining and the temps are at almost 70 degrees (21.1 Celsius). At the beginning of the week the temps were around 18 to 26 degrees (-7 to -3 Celsius) . My, how a few days can change things in a flat state.

It was supposed to be a stormy day today and I don’t see any storm clouds. I was really hoping for some tumultuous torrents. I wanted it to rain. If you listen to the lyrics…

… You can see why someone who is always down would love this song.

It’s the Debbie Downer theme song. Someone who enjoys always being sad and down and feeling as if they are the victim. We all know these type of people.

I’ve been this person in the past. I will slip into this mode at times. It is easy to fall into self-pity when life consistently gives you lemons and you haven’t got a pitcher to make lemonade.

You know what? It’s not a good place to be: the person who brings everyone else down into their sadness.

However, sometimes we mistake being a sourpuss or victim mentality with depression. These are two different things.

Depression is a real illness. There are nearly 3 million cases per year in the United States alone. I get depressed, but do I have clinical depression? Maybe. I can’t afford to see a psychologist or psychiatrist to find out. 😀

Quick Tip: No two people are affected the same way by depression and there is no “one-size-fits-all” for treatment. It may take some trial and error to find the treatment that works best for you.

I think we always want others to be “fixed” and “get over it.” That’s easier said than done. My daughter suffers from depression. I think I show signs of depression, but mostly I am affected by life occurrences and things that happen and so I believe I am just sad when bad or sad things happen, and happy when good things happen. And so, I don’t really think I have clinical depression.

But it is very real and very debilitating.

Here are some helpful tips that I’ve found helps my daughter, since she is actively taking care of her depression (also from the NIMH site):

Beyond Treatment: Things You Can Do

Here are other tips that may help you or a loved one during treatment for depression:

Try to be active and exercise.

Set realistic goals for yourself.

Try to spend time with other people and confide in a trusted friend or relative.

Try not to isolate yourself, and let others help you.

Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately.

Postpone important decisions, such as getting married or divorced, or changing jobs until you feel better. Discuss decisions with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.

Continue to educate yourself about depression.

So, back to the Garbage song: “I’m Only Happy When It Rains.”

There are people who really prefer to be down. That’s part of their character. It’s okay. I just don’t want to always be down, despite it being a good song.

I prefer this song:

(It looked like he had a lot of fun making the video too. I think the guys in the video are all real friends, and yes, that was Robin Williams in that video.)

Our attitude can change how we see the world. It’s best to be positive and optimistic. I think if we start our day with a thankful heart and an expectant wonder, things go by more smoothly.

I don’t think, however, nor am I naive enough to think a positive attitude will change circumstances that happen. Sometimes and some days bad things just happen. I hope you have someone comforting beside you when those bad things happen. Two always make things better. A friend or mate can always ease the harsh realities of life. Don’t do this (the thing called life) alone.

I am thankful my daughter has her soul mate with her as she lives with depression.

If you think you struggle with depression it’s best to see a real doctor about getting help and get a real diagnosis. It doesn’t have to bring you down for the rest of your life. It doesn’t always have to rain.

Some days it can be surprisingly sunny, despite them forecasting rain.

I hope you all the best in your searching for a better and more fulfilling life. 🙂

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Published by Val

This is a blog. I like to write. I used to write parodies and crackfics. I love humor pieces, but I also like human pieces - preferably not strewn about the floor - but all attached to the human. I will change this introduction in possibly a week, depending on my mood. Please check out my blog and see how little I know about traveling, life, soul-searching and grammar. Goodnight and good searching!
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